The Business of HockeyDiscuss the financial and business aspects of the NHL. Franchise sales, valuations, TV contracts, ratings, expansion, relocation, the CBA and work stoppage discussion goes here.
Don Fehr has put a gag order on the players. Wow. He says Fehr did that in MLB since once upon a time they were close to a CBA and a player said to the media ''we are close, let's get it done'' and MLB pulled their offer off the table.
Really good sign, IMO.
He also talked about a ''strong rumor'' going around the NHL was going to tell the PA: ''forget the make whole, we'll honor your contracts in full for the first 2 years.''
@DougMaclean: Hate to say this but just told by person in the know that yesterday was as close to a waste of time as you can get. Hope today is better...
Hearing both sides in meeting spent first 3-plus hours on revenue sharing (among teams); picking up from last night. Not yet on Make Whole..
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Originally Posted by NYRFAN218
Larry Brooks @NYP_Brooksie
Told by several sources NHL is not committed to contract term limit but is committed to ending dramatically front-loaded deals.
Larry Brooks @NYP_Brooksie
Also told that amnesty buyouts are on table.
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Originally Posted by NYRFAN218
Larry Brooks @NYP_Brooksie
Two sources report NHL would assume entire make-whole with at least a portion deferred but unclear whether that applies only to first 2 yrs
Larry Brooks @NYP_Brooksie
That at least was plan before today's meeting.
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Originally Posted by NYRFAN218
Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
@NYP_Brooksie The 5 per cent variance will eliminate back diving contracts. The term limit just isn't necessary. Not a hill worth dying on.
A few tweets from today. Seems like some of the players who didn't attend today may have left town before expected storm this evening.
the good news is they are meeting for the third consecutive day tomorrow and aren't using the media for their PR.
Other highlights from tweets (see megathread):
Daly cancelling trip to Ottawa Thursday (to talk about proposed Canadian betting on individual events/games, which NHL opposes -- there's a separate thread for that) to continue negotiations.
Fehr has put a "gag" on players (IOW no discussion of negotiations).
Revenue sharing and the NHL's "make whole" mechanism to pay players the full value of their contracts dominated six hours of conversation Wednesday when representatives of the league and the NHL Players' Assn. met for the second straight day at an undisclosed site in New York.
They plan to meet again Thursday, again avoiding media scrutiny as they try to reach a new collective bargaining agreement and end the lockout the league imposed Sept. 15.
People with knowledge of the proceedings who were not authorized to comment said that the sides have reached the stage of real negotiation instead of one side expecting the other to capitulate, and that the process will be slow as they test wills.
I'm told that today's meetings with the #NHLPA were "constructive." Progress is being made slowly. Internal meetings for both tonight
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Originally Posted by UsernameWasTaken
Doug Maclean @DougMaclean
The Board of Governors were sent a memo last nite from bettman saying if no traction today ,talks could breakdown. Obviously traction today.
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Originally Posted by Marc the Habs Fan
Katie Strang @KatieStrangESPN
#CBA NHL commish Gary Bettman similarly tight-lipped. Wouldn't characterize discussions or divulge content
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Originally Posted by UsernameWasTaken
John Shannon @JSportsnet
Told that league not sure if there was any real traction today. Will have to wait for PA's response on Friday.
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Originally Posted by Kopistar
Pierre LeBrun @Real_ESPNLeBrun
The good: they meet again tomorrow. Also a reality: still a ton of ground to cover...
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Originally Posted by Marc the Habs Fan
John Shannon @JSportsnet
Fehr and Staff ahad 7 players by their side today. Bettman/Daly and staff had 3 Owners...Edwards,Leipold,Leonsis.
kevin_mcgran 5:12pm via TweetDeck
on #NHL secret location. Turns out it's a bad idea to hide from media across street from New York Times. #NHLPA #Lockout
ChrisBottaNHL 4:31pm via Twitter for BlackBerry®
If the players want a not-really-neutral meeting site like Proskauer, can think of a few places in Montreal.
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Originally Posted by UsernameWasTaken
Tim Panaccio @tpanotchCSN
neither side wants to stall the talks; despite major differences, they will plow through FRI and likely the weekend
Michael Grange @michaelgrange
And we have Gary Bettman arriving at Proskaeur for #NHL CBA meetings
Back to the secret location
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Originally Posted by UsernameWasTaken
David Shoalts @dshoalts
The meetings that just started between #NHL and #NHLPA are between small groups concerned with different areas like pensions.
I guess they're leaving the important stuff until later
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Originally Posted by UsernameWasTaken
David Shoalts @dshoalts
The big group goes this afternoon, and the #NHL is awaiting #NHLPA's reaction to owners' response to players' two offers yesterday.
David Shoalts @dshoalts
Negotiating scene switches to Toronto on Monday and Tuesday because of Hockey Hall of Fame inductions. All the big shots in town for that.
Players in attendance:
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Originally Posted by Deebo
Campoli, Darche, Hainsey, Parros, Westgarth.
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Originally Posted by UsernameWasTaken
David Shoalts @dshoalts
Just to clarify on Monday and Tuesday: Was told Gary Bettman, Donald Fehr et al plan to be in Toronto for Hall of Fame shindig. Cont.
David Shoalts @dshoalts
Labour talks are not officially scheduled for Monday and Tuesday in Toronto but could happen. Just like this weekend in NY.
Pierre LeBrun @Real_ESPNLeBrun
Today wasn't a good day but that doesn't mean tomorrow can't be different if they meet again.. Ebb and flows to these things
Pierre LeBrun @Real_ESPNLeBrun
Both sides still far apart on player contracts issues. NHL still wants same changes. NHLPA says no way; feels 50-50 HRR is a huge concession
Pierre LeBrun @Real_ESPNLeBrun
Told NHL willing to guarantee $211 million as part of Make Whole to players... NHLPA doesn't agree with league's model or $$...not good day
Pierre LeBrun @Real_ESPNLeBrun
Source from talks says no real progress today...
Pierre LeBrun @Real_ESPNLeBrun
Right now plan is for NHL and NHLPA not to meet again tonight, but perhaps reconvene tomorrow. However, told that could possibly change
Katie Strang @KatieStrangESPN
#CBA Fehr said PA has "things to consider" but wouldn't say much beyond that. Sounds like league and union swapped more ideas
Katie Strang @KatieStrangESPN
#CBA NHLPA will hold conference call now with executive board and negotiating committee to update on situation
Pierre LeBrun @Real_ESPNLeBrun
NHLPA's Jonathan Weatherdon informs that S. Fehr and B. Daly will touch base either tonight or in a.m. to determine when bargaining resumes
Snider attended the grand opening of the fourth refurbished city rink as part of his youth hockey foundation, which provides free skating programs, ice hockey instruction, equipment and academic services to inner-city children.
...
"I'm awfully disappointed that we're not playing hockey, but there's not a thing I can do about it except just keep my fingers crossed and hope somehow it can come together," Snider said.
He declined to otherwise discuss the labour strife.
Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
Tempers have settled, at least among those involved in negotiations. Daly, S.Fehr and Kevin Westgarth met over lunch and had a good chat.
